APOD: 2024 August 17 - Sky Full of SARs

Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the August 17th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). This composite image (50 exposures over 2 1/2 hours) was captured by a camera aimed directly and the South Celestial Pole and frames the launch of an Electron rocket from the Mahia Launch Complex in New Zealand. Mahia is located close to Ahuriri Point on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The Electron rocket is a two-stage, partially reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by Rocket Lab, an American aerospace company with facilities in Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado, Maryland, Toronto and New Zealand.